A FORMER antiques dealer has appeared in court for growing cannabis at two separate locations in Ryedale.

Daniel Gene Benhamou, 57, of Roxby Gardens, Thornton-le-Dale, pleaded guilty at York Crown Court on Monday to two counts of producing cannabis, the first at his home between December 1 of last year and January 31 of this year and the second at Scamridge Farm, near Dalby Forest, between December 1 last year and March 20. Matthew Donkin, prosecuting, said the bedroom of the property in Roxby Gardens had been turned into a small cannabis farm with 30 plants growing there.

Benhamou told police the drug had been for his personal use and any excess he would just have shared with friends.

But three months later police raided the vacant Scamridge Farm, which they knew Benhamou had access to. There they discovered another 27 cannabis plants. He told them he had been tending the plants for others in return for some free cannabis.

Mitigating, Anne Mundy said her client had had a difficult life and was a man of previous good character. He had been left alone to care for his daughter, who had cerebral palsy, by his then wife who left when his daughter was three-years-old. Despite his daughter’s difficulties he had supported her and she was now at university. Over the last few years he had rebuilt a relationship with her mother. But since his daughter had left home, Benhamou’s antiques business had collapsed and he had suffered from depression, as confirmed by his GP. While at a friend’s house in Sheffield he tried cannabis and found it made life more bearable. He grew the cannabis so he would have his own supply and would not have to get involved with dealers.

Sentencing him, Judge Colin Burn, said: “The guidelines suggest a short prison sentence should be imposed in this case. I bear in mind you pleaded guilty at the first opportunity. Ultimately Mr Benhamou I don’t think you’re a bad man, therefore I can suspend the inevitable prison sentence.”

Benhamou was sentenced to four months in jail concurrent for each count of cannabis production, suspended for 12 months. He must also complete 180 hours of unpaid work.